Transformation

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Character is something deeply ingrained and difficult to change, according to most psychologists including Eric Fromm. Fromm believed that character stems from our genetic inheritance and our learning experiences. Some aspects of our character come from our parents. They are in our genes and we don’t have much choice about them. Other aspects are learnt from home, school and society. There is also a lot of interplay between the two.

It is not easy to change one’s character which is formed in one’s childhood mostly. Certain traumatic experiences bring about major changes in a person’s character. A better way to bring about radical changes is self-awareness.

Fromm divides people into 5 personality types.

1. The Receptive Type

People of this type are passive and almost totally dependent on others. They require constant support from somebody or the other, like the family, friends or some group.  They lack confidence in their own abilities and have difficulty about making their own decisions. Children who grow up in households that are overbearing and excessively controlling tend to develop this type of personality.

2. The Exploitative Type

You must have come across a lot of people who lie, cheat and manipulate others in order to get what they want. They belong to this character type, according to Fromm. Their professions of love are usually false. I have often wondered whether our politicians, quite many of them at least, belong to this type.

3. The Hoarding Type

This type loves to own a lot of things. They collect a massive amount of possessions. Those things are more important to them than people. The more things they own, the more secure they feel about themselves.

4. The Marketing Type

These are traders of relationships. They view relationships as a way of gaining something for themselves. Marriage, for example, is a way of getting a fat dowry or better social status. These people are opportunists; they can change their beliefs and values just for personal benefits. Nowadays we see a lot of our politicians switching parties shamelessly. That shamelessness is in their genes, Fromm would say.

5. The Productive Type

This is the ideal type, according to Fromm. People of this category convert their negative feelings into productive work. They focus on building loving, nurturing and meaningful relationships with other people whether at home or workplace or the society. They are a good spouse, parent, friend, co-worker, and employee. They make you feel at ease with them as well as with yourself. They bring out the best in you or at least try to.

Conclusion

There are no clear-cut boundaries between these types.  Most of us possess a combination of many types but one type tends to dominate. Awareness about our dominating characteristics is the first step towards transformation. We can leave the world a better place if we are willing to make certain changes in ourselves.